Lavatory

ABSTRACT

A lavatory especially for use by persons confined in a sitting position in wheelchairs and the like, said lavatory having an integral extended body portion cantilever supported by a concealed arm support system extending from the wall adjacent to the rear of the lavatory of a room containing the lavatory, and having substantially no underlying obstructions which would prevent said persons from easy access to the lavatory. The lavatory also includes a drain slope defining the opening of its bowl, which serves not only to allow splash water to drain back into the bowl, but also as a splash deflector.

United States Patent [72] Inventor E. Peter Robare Louisville, Ky. [21] Appl. No. 884,778 [22] Filed Dec. 24, 1969 {45] Patented Aug. 17, 1971 [73] Assignee American Standard lnc.

Continuation of application Ser. No. 618,669, Feb. 27 1967. now abandoned.

[S4] LAVATORY 4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

52 u.s.c| 4/166 [51] Int. Cl A47k 1/04 [50} Field otSearch 4/166, 167

{56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 756,239 4/1904 Kelly 4/166 1398,31 1 2/1933 Sandhagen 4/159 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,073,700 1/1960 Germany 4/166 Primary Examiner-Laverne D. Geiger Assislan! Examiner-Donald B Massenberg Attorne'ys-Sheldon H. Parker and Tennes l. Erstad ABSTRACT: A lavatory especially for use by persons confined in a sitting position in wheelchairs and the like, said lava tory having an integral extended body portion cantilever supported by a concealed arm support system extending from the wall adjacent to the rear of the lavatory of a room containing the lavatory, and having substantially no underlying obstructions which would prevent said persons from easy access to the lavatory. The lavatory also includes a drain slope defining the opening of its bowl, which serves not only to allow splash water to drain back into the bowl, but also as a splash deflector.

PATENTEI] ms: 71971 3, 599 ,2593

I saw 1 OF 3 E.PETER R0 E AT TQRNEY PATENTEUAUGI new SHEET 2 [1F 3 INVENTOR. ETER R ARE ATTORNEY LAVATORY This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 618,669 which now is abandoned.

This invention relates to a lavatory which is readily accessible to persons confined in wheelchairs and the like.

More specifically this invention relates to a lavatory having a shallow depth together with an extended body portion and a minimum of underlying obstructions to permit the user to move a portion of his body underneath. Thus persons confined to wheelchairs may wash themselves without creating an undue amount of water splash in the area surrounding the lavatory.

Lavatories presently known in the art are generally constructed with a deep bowl and include a plurality of supports and pipes therebeneath thus forcing confined persons to wash themselves from a distant position in front of the lavatory. These persons have difficulty preventing undue water splash in the area surrounding the lavatory while bathing from this position. For many conventional types of lavatories, it is practically impossible for confined persons to reach the faucets and the tap to effect proper bathing.

According to the present invention, a lavatory is provided having a shallow and extended bowl which projects by a concealed cantilever arm support system extending from the wall adjacent to the rear of the lavatory of a room containing the lavatory and contains substantially no obstructions beneath its bowl to impede a confined person,in a sitting position, from locating himself immediately thereinfront. The trap connected to the drain of the lavatory is also removed rearwardly to a position adjacent to the wall for additional clearance. The shallow depth bowl of the lavatory is further provided with a self-draining rim to minimize the possibility of water getting outside of the lavatory bowl.

Moreover the front flange or leading edge of the lavatory is provided with a slight concave depression to correspond in shape to the body of the user. The lavatory according to the invention is also provided with a front overflow orifice for draining high water through a shallow integral channel to the rear of the lavatory at its connection to the drain.

It is therefore an object according to the present invention to provide a lavatory which is readily accessible to confined persons. v

It is another object according to the present invention to provide a lavatory which extends sufficiently from its cantilever supports and drain facilities to permit confined persons to position themselves immediately thereinfront.

It is a further object according to the present invention to provide a lavatory which produces a minimum of splash in the surrounding area when utilized by all types of persons.

Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, which disclose one embodiment of the present invention. It should be understood, however, that the drawings are designed for the purpose of illustration only, and not as a definition of the limits of the invention, as to which reference should be made in the appended claims.

In the drawings, wherein similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views;

FIG. I is a view, slightly in elevation, of the lavatory according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view along section 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the lavatory according to the invention; and,

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along section 44 of FIG. 3.

Referring to FIG. I, there is shown the lavatory l according to the invention, having on its top surface 32 a pair of hotand cold-water faucets 11 and 12 which control the temperature and flow of water to a centrally located tap 13, disposed over a shallow bowl area. The bowl is defined in top surface 32 by a drain slope 33 completely surrounding the bowl area. The

slope angle of drain slope 33 is smallest along the sides and front portion of the lavatory and becomes steep in the area beneath tap 13. The bowl of lavatory 10 is further defined by a cavity consisting of a gentle sloping surface 14, communicative with drain slope 33 and extending from the front portion of the basin to a drain area or fluid drain 15. The bowl also includes vertically sloping walls 20 in the area beneath tap l3,

and communicative with slope surface 14 and drain slope 33.

Referring to FIGS. 2-4, lavatory 10 is shown partly in cross section to include a rear supporting flange 19 depending vertically from top surface 32, and formed as an integral part of the casting of the lavatory l0. Flange 19 is bolted to a concealed support system within the wall adjacent to the rear of the lavatory of a room containing the lavatory. The support system additionally includes a pair of cantilever arms (not shown) extending on both sides of the bottom of the basin and secured to the lavatory. Tap 13 is inserted through an aperture at the rear, portion or the basin on surface 32, and secured thereto by means of a ringcollar l7 and a helically threaded hexagonal nut 18in a known manner. Hotand cold-water faucets l 1 and 12 are secured to lavatory 10 by means of hexagonal nuts 23 and 124. i I

Positioned along the centerline of the sink as defined by section line 2-2 is an overflow drain 22, comprised of an orifice 22a positioned at the top of basin slope surface 14 adjacent to the points where it is communicative to an internal channel 25 formed within the casting of lavatory 10 and defined in part by basin slope surface 14 and bottom surface 21. Channel 25 terminates in an openingat its opposite end within fluid drain l5. Fluid drain 15 discharges the water collected in basin 10 through drain pipe 24 connected to its bottom opening. Drain pipe 24 is secured to a threaded portion of fluid drain 15 by means of a hexagonal nut 35. Fluid drain 15 is additionally provided with a strainer 16 for catching foreign articles which might otherwise become entrapped within drain pipe 24. Bottom surface 21 defining internal channel 25 has a narrow width and a shallow depth with respect to the bowl of lavatory 10 but a wide width with respect to conventional overflow drains so as to permit a person confined in a wheelchair to be wheeled immediately beneath the basin without interference.

Moreover, drain pipe 24 is constructed from an elbow pipe 40 which forms a bend adjacent to its coupling with fluid drain 15 so as to carry the drain water horizontally to the wall adjacent to the rear of the lavatory of a room containing the lavatory to a drain trap 41. Elbow pipe 40 permits a patient confined to a wheelchair and in a sitting position, to expand his legs on either side thereof without interference. This enables the user to position himself immediately in front of the washbasin so that his body will touch its leading edge. The flange defining the leading edge of lavatory 10 is constructed slightly concave to correspond to the body of the user and to provide an increased surface area to catch water splash that will occur during washing.

Moreover, drain slope 33 terminates against the concave leading edge of lavatory l0 and deflects any water gathered thereon back into the bowl area of the lavatory. In this manner it is possible for confined persons to have full access to the bowl area of lavatory l0, and to bathe their hands and arms while producing a minimum of splash in the surrounding area.

In an actual embodiment of the lavatory, the greatest depth C of the bowl was constructed to be 4% inches measured from top surface 32 to fluid drain 15. The centerline of drain 15 (dimension B) was located 1 1 inches from the wall adjacent to the rear of the lavatory of a room containing the lavatory. The overall length A of the lavatory measured from the backwall to its front flange on either side of the concave portion was 27 inches. The actual depth D of the lavatory measured from top surface 32 to the connection of drain pipe 24 was only 6 /4 inches.

While only a single embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described, it will be understood that many changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

I claim: 1. A lavatory usable by a person confined to a wheelchair comprising:

an extending body portion having a relatively shallow wash bowl and supported by concealed cantilever members from the wall adjacent the rear of the lavatory of a room containing a lavatory with a concave flange defining its leading edge,

an overflow drain positioned adjacent to the front of said bowl, an internal channel communicative with the overflow drain and a fluid drain at the bottom of said bowl, wherein said bowl additionally comprises a circumferential drain slope defining the bowl within the top surface of said lavatory, wherein said drain slope is communicative with said concave flange, wherein said wash bowl has a depth approximately one-sixth the length of said body portion, and wherein said fluid drain is displaced from said wall a distance approximately equal to onethird the length of the body portion,

an elbow shaped drain pipe secured to the outlet of said fluid drain and conducting the drain water from said bowl toward a conventional trap and toward said wall from said trap adjacent to the rear of the lavatory of a room containing said lavatory.

2. A lavatory usable by a person confined to a wheelchair,

comprising:

an extending body portion having a relatively shallow wash bowl and supported by concealed cantilever members adjacent the rear of said lavatory, from the wall of a room containing said lavatory,

said lavatory having a concave flange defining its leading edge to correspond in shape generally to the chest portion of the body of the user,

fluid drain means communicative with the bottom of said bowl, and a centrally positioned and longitudinally extending channel formed at the bottom of said bowl and communicative with an overflow drain located at the front of said bowl and said fluid drain, said bowl having a circumferential drain slope within the top surface of said lavatory, constituting a self-draining rim, said washbowl having a depth on the order of one-sixth of the length of said body portion, and wherein said lavatory contains substantially no obstructions beneath its bowl to permit a person confined in a wheelchair to be wheeled to a position immediately before and beneath the basin without interference. 3. A lavatory usable by a person confined to a wheelchair, comprising:

an extended body portion having a relatively shallow wash bowl and supported by concealed cantilever members adjacent the rear of said lavatory, from the adjacent wall of a room containing said lavatory, said lavatory having a concave flange defining its leading edge, a fluid drain communicative with the bottom of said bowl, and a centrally positioned and longitudinally extending channel integrally formed with the bottom of said bowl and communicative with an overflow drain at the front of said bowl and said fluid drain, said shallow wash bowl having a circumferential drain slope defining said bowl within the top surface of said lavatory, said drain slope being communicative with said concave flange, an elbow-shaped drain pipe secured to the outlet of said fluid drain and conducting the drain water from said bowl toward a conventional trap and from said trap toward said wall adjacent to the rear of said lavatory. 4. The lavatory as recited in claims 3 wherein said fluid drain is displaced from the wall a length approximately equal to one-third the length of said body portion. 

1. A lavatory usable by a person confined to a wheelchair comprising: an extending body portion having a relatively shallow wash bowl and supported by concealed cantilever members from the wall adjacent the rear of the lavatory of a room containing a lavatory with a concave flange defining its leading edge, an overflow drain positioned adjacent to the front of said bowl, an internal channel communicative with the overflow drain and a fluid drain at the bottom of said bowl, wherein said bowl additionally comprises a circumferential drain slope defining the bowl within the top surface of said lavatory, wherein said drain slope is communicative with said concave flange, wherein said wash bowl has a depth approximately one-sixth the length of said body portion, and wherein said fluid drain is displaced from said wall a distance approximately equal to one-third the length of the body portion, an elbow shaped drain pipe secured to the outlet of said fluid drain and conducting the drain water from said bowl toward a conventional trap and toward said wall from said trap adjacent to the rear of the lavatory of a room containing said lavatory.
 2. A lavatory usable by a person confined to a wheelchair, comprising: an extending body portion having a relatively shallow wash bowl and supported by concealed cantilever members adjacent the rear of said lavatory, from the wall of a room containing said lavatory, said lavatory having a concave flange defining its leading edge to correspond in shape generally to the chest portion of the body of the user, fluid drain means communicative with the bottom of said bowl, and a centrally positioned and longitudinally extending channel formed at the bottom of said bowl and communicative with an overflow drain located at the front of said bowl and said fluid drain, said bowl having a circumferential drain slope within the top surface of said lavatory, constituting a self-draining rim, said washbowl having a depth on the order of one-sixth of the length of said body portion, and wherein said lavatory contains substantially no obstructions beneath its bowl to permit a person confined in a wheelchair to be wheeled to a position immediately before and beneath the basin without interference.
 3. A lavatory usable by a person confined to a wheelchair, comprising: an extended body portion having a relatively shallow wash bowl and supported by concealed cantilever members adjacent the rear of saiD lavatory, from the adjacent wall of a room containing said lavatory, said lavatory having a concave flange defining its leading edge, a fluid drain communicative with the bottom of said bowl, and a centrally positioned and longitudinally extending channel integrally formed with the bottom of said bowl and communicative with an overflow drain at the front of said bowl and said fluid drain, said shallow wash bowl having a circumferential drain slope defining said bowl within the top surface of said lavatory, said drain slope being communicative with said concave flange, an elbow-shaped drain pipe secured to the outlet of said fluid drain and conducting the drain water from said bowl toward a conventional trap and from said trap toward said wall adjacent to the rear of said lavatory.
 4. The lavatory as recited in claims 3 wherein said fluid drain is displaced from the wall a length approximately equal to one-third the length of said body portion. 